Rev A Brandram No.60
Kingston, Jamaica, 3rd May 1837
My Dear Friend,
All hail the auspicious day, the day on which all the disciples of Christ meet together around the Word of God, with one heart and one soul, ―the day on which they all speak the same thing, and when there is no divisions among them! All hail to this day, the best and noblest of the year, as marked in the calendar of heaven. And, Oh, when shall the antitype of this blessed day come, when shall the time arrive shadowed forth in this day, the time when the whole church of God shall be perfectly united in one mind and one judgment, and when we shall all glorify God with one mind and one mouth! ―The Lord be with you all on this day. May the Holy Ghost fall upon you all: may you never afterwards quench nor grieve the Spirit of God in your intercourse one with another; and may God never take away his Spirit from you!
In my last I told you, that I expected to be in Cuba on this day. From a disappointment in regard to a vessel, that has not been verified. But, tomorrow, if the Lord will, I sail from this port to the Havanna. I do count, as you know, on the prayers of yourself, of the Committee, and of all the friends of the Bible Society, in this enterprise, for enterprise it may be called, and one too of a doubtful character, not as to its merits, but as to the results that may attend it. The Lord hear all your prayers, and make this effort glorious in its effects, for the advancement of his kingdom!
The Bibles, alas for it, our expected Bibles, are not yet come. Three months ago we thought we had them, for there was time. I suppose there is nobody to blame in the case, except for the ship; but, you know, one will quarrel even with a ship under disappointments. We feel our loss greatly, and our character is suffering in the minds of many Negroes who have been looking their eyes out for them in long suspense. I hoped much they would have arrived before I set out for Cuba, but in this I am disappointed. I must now do the best I can to arrange for their distribution whenever they may come, in my absence.
Since my last I have received letters from you of the 28th January, the 14th February, and the 14th March; and from Mr Jackson of the 15th March. Last mail brought ne a very cheering brotherly letter from our fellow labourer Mr Wheeler.
During the last two months I have been endeavouring to do something in different places near to this in the way of stirring up congregations to get the Scriptures among themselves to the fullest extent of their need; and the results in some of these places show how rich and large a field there is in this respect for Bible Society cultivation.
I am glad to see the tribute you have paid to the memory of our late dear Friend Mr Tarn, as contained in your letter of 28th January. He was a faithful and laborious servant of the Society for a very long period. He died at his post, and has, I doubt not, received the conqueror's reward from the Captain of our salvation.
You notice our Hampden Bible Association. The seeming, not real, irregularity, arises, I believe, from the circumstance of a collection being made, and part of it paid in to their Bible Association, and part of it to their Missionary Society.
Believe me, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.